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Wines like Soave

Garganega from volcanic hills near Verona: subtle, almond-scented and far better than its bulk-wine reputation. Below: what to try next, grouped by the direction you want to travel.

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What do you like about Soave?

Optional — the results below already work without it. But “I like Malbec” is at least four different preferences wearing one name, and saying which one you mean changes the answer substantially. Only qualities this wine actually has are offered.

I like…

That it is properly dry

But it’s a bit…

too sharp or lemony too light or thin too alcoholic or warming too floral or soapy too savoury or funky too austere

Clear all

What these words mean

The citrus and orchard fruit: Lemon, lime, green apple, pear. The signature of a cool-climate white — quieter and less perfumed than tropical fruit, and a different thing from the acidity it usually travels with.
How light it is: A wine you can drink without it feeling like a commitment. Usually lower in alcohol as well as lighter in the mouth.
That it is not too strong: Alcohol you notice as warmth at the back of the throat. Some people find it a pleasant part of a big red and some find it tiring.
The floral character: Rose, violet, elderflower, orange blossom.
The savoury, meaty side: Leather, olive, cured meat, dried herbs, tobacco. It is what people mean by calling a wine "serious" rather than "fruity", and it comes with age as well as with place.
That it is properly dry: No perceptible sugar at all. Almost all red wine is dry and a good deal of white wine is not, which is why this is a more useful thing to say about a white than about a red.

Looking for something keeping that it is properly dry, while moving away from too savoury or funky and too floral or soapy.

Based on what you said

Ranked against the qualities you named rather than against the wine as a whole. The directions below are refined the same way.

Pinot Grigio

curated

Both are light, dry, unobtrusive northern Italian whites.

Keeps that it is properly dry.
A little less savoury or funky.
Substantially less floral or soapy.

Wachau Grüner Veltliner

The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both sit in the same style family.

Keeps that it is properly dry.
Substantially less savoury or funky.
Substantially less floral or soapy.

Avesso

The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.

Keeps that it is properly dry.
Substantially less savoury or funky.
Substantially less floral or soapy.

Trebbiano di Soave

Both are made from trebbiano di soave, and the structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, both come from the same country.

Keeps that it is properly dry.
A little less savoury or funky.
Substantially less floral or soapy.

Pošip

The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.

Keeps that it is properly dry.
Substantially less savoury or funky.
Substantially less floral or soapy.

Sauvignon Blanc

The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.

Keeps that it is properly dry.
Substantially less savoury or funky.
Substantially less floral or soapy.

Antão Vaz

The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.

Keeps that it is properly dry.
Substantially less savoury or funky.
Substantially less floral or soapy.

Štajerska Šipon

The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both sit in the same style family.

Keeps that it is properly dry.
A little less savoury or funky.
Substantially less floral or soapy.

Closest overall

Nearest neighbours, no change of direction.

Closest matches

The nearest overall neighbours across structure and flavour, with no deliberate change of direction.

Pinot Grigio

curated

Both are light, dry, unobtrusive northern Italian whites.

Expect: Blander and less almond-scented.

Wachau Grüner Veltliner

The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both sit in the same style family.

Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and spicier.

Avesso

The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.

Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and less oaky.

Trebbiano di Soave

Both are made from trebbiano di soave, and the structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, both come from the same country.

Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and more restrained in fruit.

Different grape, similar feel

Deliberately excludes the variety you already know, to find a genuinely new wine that fills the same role.

Pinot Grigio

curated

Both are light, dry, unobtrusive northern Italian whites.

Expect: Blander and less almond-scented.

Wachau Grüner Veltliner

The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both sit in the same style family.

Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and spicier.

Avesso

The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.

Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and less oaky.

Pošip

The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.

Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and fuller and richer.

Change the structure

Same idea, different weight, grip or freshness.

Similar but lighter

Keeps the character but reduces weight, alcohol and density in the mouth.

Pinot Grigio

curated

Both are light, dry, unobtrusive northern Italian whites.

Expect: Blander and less almond-scented.

Colombard

The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.

Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and more restrained in fruit.

Koshu

The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both sit in the same style family.

Expect: Expect it to be more restrained in fruit, and less floral.

Jacquère

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be more restrained in fruit, and less floral.

Similar but lower in alcohol

Holds the character and the weight where it can, and moves specifically on strength. Note that below about 11% the choices narrow sharply, and below 5% they are mostly a different category rather than a lighter version of the same one.

Colombard

The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.

Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and more restrained in fruit.

Jacquère

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be more restrained in fruit, and less floral.

Alpine white

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure, and both sit in the same style family.

Expect: Expect it to be more savoury, and less floral.

Txakoli

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure, and both sit in the same style family.

Expect: Expect it to be more savoury, and less floral.

Similar but fuller

Keeps the character but adds weight, concentration and mouthfeel.

Antão Vaz

The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.

Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and softer and rounder.

Pošip

The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.

Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and broader and softer.

Soave Classico

curated

The hillside heart of the same appellation.

Expect: More concentration, texture and mineral depth.

Wachau Grüner Veltliner

The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both sit in the same style family.

Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and spicier.

Similar but less tannic

For readers who find firm reds drying. Reduces tannic grip while holding flavour and weight roughly steady.

Nothing in WineHQ's catalogue makes this move meaningfully from here. These are the closest wines otherwise, but do not expect them to deliver what you asked for — the honest answer is that this style does not have a good neighbour in that direction.

Wachau Grüner Veltliner

The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both sit in the same style family.

Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and spicier.

Pošip

The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.

Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and fuller and richer.

Antão Vaz

The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.

Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and softer and rounder.

Auxerrois

The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.

Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and more restrained in fruit.

Similar but more structured

More tannic architecture, for food or for ageing.

Malvazija Istarska

The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.

Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and more restrained in fruit.

Koshu

The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both sit in the same style family.

Expect: Expect it to be more restrained in fruit, and less floral.

Istrian Malvazija

The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both sit in the same style family.

Expect: Expect it to be more savoury, and less floral.

Brda Rebula

The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both sit in the same style family.

Expect: Expect it to be more savoury, and less floral.

Similar but fresher

Raises acidity and overall lift, usually by moving to a cooler-climate expression.

Cortese

The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both come from the same country.

Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and more restrained in fruit.

Sauvignon Blanc

The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.

Expect: Expect it to be more herbal and green, and more aromatic.

Šipon

The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.

Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and more restrained in fruit.

Štajerska Šipon

The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both sit in the same style family.

Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and more restrained in fruit.

Similar but softer

Lowers acidity and sharpness in favour of a broader, gentler feel.

Antão Vaz

The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.

Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and less oaky.

Auxerrois

The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.

Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and more restrained in fruit.

Pošip

The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.

Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and fuller and richer.

Marsanne

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be more savoury, and less floral.

The sparkling version

Moves to a sparkling expression while holding the flavour and weight as close as possible.

Austrian Sekt

Both are made from chardonnay, and they occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be sweeter, and more savoury.

Sekt

Both are made from chardonnay, and they occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be sweeter, and more savoury.

Crémant

Both are made from chardonnay, and they occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be sweeter, and more savoury.

Franciacorta

Both are made from chardonnay, and both come from the same country.

Expect: Expect it to be more savoury, and sweeter.

Similar but sweeter

Adds perceptible sweetness, which also softens acidity and chilli heat.

Gros Manseng

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be sweeter, and less floral.

Slavonian Graševina

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure, and both sit in the same style family.

Expect: Expect it to be sweeter, and less floral.

Pinot Gris

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure, and both come from the same country.

Expect: Expect it to be sweeter, and more restrained in fruit.

Graševina

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be sweeter, and less floral.

Change the flavour

Same shape, different aromatic character.

Similar but less oaky

One of the commonest requests in wine. Strips oak influence while holding grape character and weight.

Pinot Grigio

curated

Both are light, dry, unobtrusive northern Italian whites.

Expect: Blander and less almond-scented.

Wachau Grüner Veltliner

The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both sit in the same style family.

Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and spicier.

Avesso

The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.

Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and broader and softer.

Trebbiano di Soave

Both are made from trebbiano di soave, and the structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, both come from the same country.

Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and more restrained in fruit.

Similar but more oaky

Adds barrel character, toast and a creamier texture.

Chilean Chardonnay

Both are made from chardonnay, and the structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.

Expect: Expect it to be more savoury, and less floral.

Chardonnay

Both are made from chardonnay, and the structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.

Expect: Expect it to be more savoury, and more restrained in fruit.

Dry Furmint

The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.

Expect: Expect it to be more savoury, and less floral.

California Chardonnay

Both are made from chardonnay, and they occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be sweeter, and more savoury.

Similar but more aromatic

More to smell before you taste — floral, fruity or spiced aromatics.

Sauvignon Blanc

The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.

Expect: Expect it to be more aromatic, and more herbal and green.

Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc

The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.

Expect: Expect it to be more floral, and fruitier.

Falanghina

The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both come from the same country.

Expect: Expect it to be more floral, and less oaky.

Mtsvane Kakhuri

The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.

Expect: Expect it to be more floral, and less oaky.

Similar but more restrained

For readers who find intensely aromatic wines tiring over a whole glass. Keeps the structure, turns the volume down.

Pinot Grigio

curated

Both are light, dry, unobtrusive northern Italian whites.

Expect: Blander and less almond-scented.

Pinot Blanc

The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.

Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and more restrained in fruit.

Cortese

The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both come from the same country.

Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and more restrained in fruit.

Koshu

The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both sit in the same style family.

Expect: Expect it to be more restrained in fruit, and less floral.

Similar but more floral

Pushes specifically towards rose, violet, blossom and elderflower character.

Falanghina

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure, and both come from the same country.

Expect: Expect it to be more floral, and less oaky.

Mtsvane Kakhuri

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be more floral, and less oaky.

Malagousia

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be more floral, and less oaky.

Torrontés

Torrontés scores closest to Soave across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.

Expect: Expect it to be more floral, and more aromatic.

Similar but less floral

Some drinkers read floral aromatics as soapy or perfumed. This holds the structure and removes them.

Antão Vaz

The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.

Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and softer and rounder.

Avesso

The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.

Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and less oaky.

Pinot Grigio

curated

Both are light, dry, unobtrusive northern Italian whites.

Expect: Blander and less almond-scented.

Pošip

The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.

Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and fuller and richer.

Similar but more savoury

Moves away from primary fruit towards earth, herb, meat and umami character.

Franken Silvaner

Both sit in the same style family.

Expect: Expect it to be more savoury, and more restrained in fruit.

Savennières

Savennières scores closest to Soave across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.

Expect: Expect it to be more savoury, and less floral.

Chablis

Both are made from chardonnay, and both sit in the same style family.

Expect: Expect it to be more savoury, and more restrained in fruit.

Friuli white

Both are made from chardonnay, and both come from the same country.

Expect: Expect it to be more savoury, and less floral.

Similar but fruitier

More obvious, generous fruit flavour, usually from a warmer climate.

Antão Vaz

The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.

Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and softer and rounder.

Avesso

The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.

Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and less oaky.

Pošip

The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.

Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and fuller and richer.

Sauvignon Blanc

The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.

Expect: Expect it to be more herbal and green, and more aromatic.

Change the place

Keep the grape, move it somewhere else.

Same grape, somewhere else

Holds the variety constant and changes the place, which is often a bigger change than swapping the grape.

Chilean Chardonnay

Both are made from chardonnay, and the structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.

Expect: Expect it to be more savoury, and less floral.

Chardonnay

Both are made from chardonnay, and the structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.

Expect: Expect it to be more savoury, and more restrained in fruit.

Australian Chardonnay

Both are made from chardonnay, and they occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be more savoury, and less floral.

New Zealand Chardonnay

Both are made from chardonnay, and they occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be more savoury, and less floral.

Same grape, cooler climate

Typically fresher, lighter and more herbal, with lower alcohol.

English still white

Both are made from chardonnay, and they occupy similar territory for weight and structure, both sit in the same style family.

Expect: Expect it to be sweeter, and more savoury.

Chablis

Both are made from chardonnay, and they occupy similar territory for weight and structure, both sit in the same style family.

Expect: Expect it to be more savoury, and less floral.

Jura Savagnin and Chardonnay

Both are made from chardonnay, and they occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be more savoury, and less floral.

Austrian Sekt

Both are made from chardonnay, and they occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be sweeter, and more savoury.

Same grape, warmer climate

Typically riper, fuller and more generous in fruit, with higher alcohol.

Chilean Chardonnay

Both are made from chardonnay, and the structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.

Expect: Expect it to be more savoury, and less floral.

Soave Classico

curated

The hillside heart of the same appellation.

Expect: More concentration, texture and mineral depth.

California Chardonnay

Both are made from chardonnay, and they occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be sweeter, and more savoury.

Australian Chardonnay

Both are made from chardonnay, and they occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be more savoury, and less floral.

Change the mood

Safer, stranger, cheaper or more serious.

A safe next step

Well-known wines that are widely available and unlikely to surprise anyone.

Pinot Grigio

curated

Both are light, dry, unobtrusive northern Italian whites.

Expect: Blander and less almond-scented.

Sauvignon Blanc

The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.

Expect: Expect it to be more herbal and green, and more aromatic.

German dry Riesling (trocken)

The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.

Expect: Expect it to be more savoury, and less floral.

Chardonnay

Both are made from chardonnay, and the structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.

Expect: Expect it to be more savoury, and more restrained in fruit.

Something more adventurous

Less familiar wines that occupy similar territory — the interesting end of the shelf.

Wachau Grüner Veltliner

The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both sit in the same style family.

Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and spicier.

Avesso

The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.

Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and less oaky.

Trebbiano di Soave

Both are made from trebbiano di soave, and the structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, both come from the same country.

Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and more restrained in fruit.

Pošip

The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.

Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and fuller and richer.

A better-value alternative

Wines that occupy similar sensory territory from regions carrying less price premium. WineHQ does not hold live prices, so this reasons from regional reputation and demand rather than from a price feed — treat it as a lead, not a quote.

Wachau Grüner Veltliner

The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both sit in the same style family.

Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and spicier.

Avesso

The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.

Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and less oaky.

Trebbiano di Soave

Both are made from trebbiano di soave, and the structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, both come from the same country.

Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and more restrained in fruit.

Pošip

The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.

Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and fuller and richer.

A step up

The benchmark expressions of the same territory, usually with more concentration, structure and ageing potential.

Australian Chardonnay

Both are made from chardonnay, and they occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be more savoury, and less floral.

Chardonnay

Both are made from chardonnay, and the structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.

Expect: Expect it to be more savoury, and more restrained in fruit.

South African Chenin Blanc

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be more savoury, and less floral.

White Burgundy

Both are made from chardonnay, and they occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be more savoury, and less floral.

How these are chosen

Each suggestion is scored across sixteen taste dimensions, weighted so that structure matters more than flavour, and adjusted for whether the wine actually moves in the direction you asked for. Curated links from an editor carry extra weight — but only when the editor tagged them for this direction. Nothing here is a black box; see the taste model for the full method.